Poland has, for the first time, opened fire and destroyed several Russian drones that crossed its state border and entered its airspace during a massive overnight Russian attack on Ukraine. Warsaw described the incident as an “unprecedented violation of Polish sovereignty” and a direct threat to the safety of its citizens. This marks the first instance since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 that a NATO member state has directly neutralized Russian targets over its own territory.
Poland’s Armed Forces Operational Command confirmed on Wednesday morning that its military had destroyed the drones. In an official statement, the military emphasized: “This was an act of aggression that posed a real threat to the safety of our citizens.” Prime Minister Donald Tusk added that the operations were carried out in response to “multiple violations of Polish airspace” and confirmed that “the military used weapons against these objects.”
In response to the incident, authorities suspended operations at four airports, including Warsaw-Modlin, Rzeszów-Jasionka, and Lublin. Residents of three border voivodeships near Ukraine – including Mazovia, where the capital Warsaw is located – were urged to remain in shelters as the situation was rapidly evolving and its scale remained uncertain.
The government convened late-night crisis meetings. President Karol Nawrocki announced a briefing at the National Security Bureau with the participation of the prime minister and top security officials. Despite political rivalry, Nawrocki stressed the need for unity in the face of Russian aggression: “The security of our homeland is our highest priority and requires close cooperation.”
Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that Poland is “in constant contact with NATO command,” keeping allies fully informed of developments. Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that Poland has invoked NATO consultations under Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which provides for joint discussions among member states in the event of threats to the territorial integrity, political independence, or security of any NATO country.
Tusk also reported that 19 airspace violations were recorded overnight, with a significant number of drones entering from Belarus. According to him, four drones were shot down, with the last one destroyed at 6:45 a.m. local time (7:45 a.m. Kyiv time). “Seven drones and the wreckage of one missile of unknown origin have been found,” Interior Ministry spokesperson Karolina Galęcka said at a press briefing, as reported by Reuters.
According to Reuters sources, NATO does not view the incident as an attack but as a deliberate incursion. The report indicates that the nighttime operation involved Polish F-16 fighters, Dutch F-35s, Italian AWACS reconnaissance aircraft, and NATO-operated refueling planes. Preliminary assessments suggest that the entry of Russian drones into European airspace was intentional rather than accidental, European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas stated.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the incident as an extremely dangerous precedent for Europe. He emphasized that Ukraine is ready to provide Poland with relevant data on the Russian attack and assist in developing alert and defense systems against similar threats. “It is clear that Russian aggression poses a threat to every independent nation in our region. Only joint and coordinated actions can ensure lasting security,” he wrote on Twitter.
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Source: ukdefencejournal
